Kenyan election hacking bid failed, says official

THE database of Kenya’s election commission was unsuccessfully targeted by a hacking attempt, a top official has said.

The comments by commission chairman Wafula Chebukati dispute allegations by opposition leader Raila Odinga that hackers were able to infiltrate the computer system and manipulate results against him following Tuesday’s vote.

Kenyans are tensely awaiting the final tally of an election pitting Mr Odinga against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Kenyatta has a wide lead in provisional results that election officials are painstakingly trying to confirm with checks of documents from polling stations nationwide.

While most of the East African country of more than 40 million people was calm, clashes between police and protesters erupted in a Nairobi slum yesterday. Police fired on rioters in Kawangware, a poor area, said an Associated Press photographer.

One injured man was carried away by protesters who said police shot him.

On Wednesday, at least three people were shot and killed in confrontations between security forces and opposition supporters in several areas of Kenya, East Africa’s commercial hub, whose stability is a key concern for the region.

“Hacking was attempted but did not succeed,” Mr Chebukati said at a news conference.

He said “all the presidential results will reach the national tallying centre” by noon today, indicating that a final announcement on the winner could take at least another day.

The election commission has a week from the vote to release the final tally.